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\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING
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Tuesday, October 30, 2007
MORNING:
"I will praise thee, O Lord."
-- Psalms 9:1
Praise should always follow answered prayer; as the mist of earth's
gratitude rises when the sun of heaven's love warms the ground. Hath
the Lord been gracious to thee, and inclined his ear to the voice of
thy supplication? Then praise him as long as thou livest. Let the ripe
fruit drop upon the fertile soil from which it drew its life. Deny not
a song to him who hath answered thy prayer and given thee the desire of
thy heart. To be silent over God's mercies is to incur the guilt of
ingratitude; it is to act as basely as the nine lepers, who after they
had been cured of their leprosy, returned not to give thanks unto the
healing Lord. To forget to praise God is to refuse to benefit
ourselves; for praise, like prayer, is one great means of promoting the
growth of the spiritual life. It helps to remove our burdens, to excite
our hope, to increase our faith. It is a healthful and invigorating
exercise which quickens the pulse of the believer, and nerves him for
fresh enterprises in his Master's service. To bless God for mercies
received is also the way to benefit our fellow-men; "the humble shall
hear thereof and be glad." Others who have been in like circumstances
shall take comfort if we can say, "Oh! magnify the Lord with me, and
let us exalt his name together; this poor man cried, and the Lord heard
him." Weak hearts will be strengthened, and drooping saints will be
revived as they listen to our "songs of deliverance." Their doubts and
fears will be rebuked, as we teach and admonish one another in psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs. They too shall "sing in the ways of the
Lord," when they hear us magnify his holy name. Praise is the most
heavenly of Christian duties. The angels pray not, but they cease not
to praise both day and night; and the redeemed, clothed in white robes,
with palm-branches in their hands, are never weary of singing the new
song, "Worthy is the Lamb."
EVENING:
"Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to
thy voice: cause me to hear it."
-- Song of Solomon 8:13
My sweet Lord Jesus remembers well the garden of Gethsemane, and
although he has left that garden, he now dwells in the garden of his
church: there he unbosoms himself to those who keep his blessed
company. That voice of love with which he speaks to his beloved is more
musical than the harps of heaven. There is a depth of melodious love
within it which leaves all human music far behind. Ten of thousands on
earth, and millions above, are indulged with its harmonious accents.
Some whom I well know, and whom I greatly envy, are at this moment
hearkening to the beloved voice. O that I were a partaker of their
joys! It is true some of these are poor, others bedridden, and some
near the gates of death, but O my Lord, I would cheerfully starve with
them, pine with them, or die with them, if I might but hear thy voice.
Once I did hear it often, but I have grieved thy Spirit. Return unto me
in compassion, and once again say unto me, "I am thy salvation." No
other voice can content me; I know thy voice, and cannot be deceived by
another, let me hear it, I pray thee. I know not what thou wilt say,
neither do I make any condition, O my Beloved, do but let me hear thee
speak, and if it be a rebuke I will bless thee for it. Perhaps to
cleanse my dull ear may need an operation very grievous to the flesh,
but let it cost what it may I turn not from the one consuming desire,
cause me to hear thy voice. Bore my ear afresh; pierce my ear with thy
harshest notes, only do not permit me to continue deaf to thy calls.
To-night, Lord, grant thine unworthy one his desire, for I am thine,
and thou hast bought me with thy blood. Thou hast opened mine eye to
see thee, and the sight has saved me. Lord, open thou mine ear. I have
read thy heart, now let me hear thy lips.
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Morning & Evening is the classic devotional by 19th-century writer
and preacher Charles Spurgeon. It's part of HEARTLIGHT Magazine,
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